Fatih Dönmez

Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez on Monday said that the country's Yavuz ship will start drilling for hydrocarbon deposits within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone "today or tomorrow," in what Nicosia says is a "serious escalation" by Ankara.

One of Turkey's oil and gas exploration ships in the eastern Mediterranean will soon begin drilling southwest of Cyprus, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Saturday, as Ankara and Nicosia dispute offshore rights in the area.

In yet another blatant violation of Cyprus' sovereignty, Turkey on Thursday sent its Yavuz drillship to an area off the west coast of the island and within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to prospect for hydrocarbons.

The area, which is in Block 7 of the island's EEZ, has already been licensed for exploration to the French-Italian consortium of Total and Eni.

Turkey is sending an oil and gas drilling ship to waters off southern Cyprus where Greek Cypriot authorities have already awarded exploration rights to Italian and French companies, according to Turkish statements on Thursday.

The Yavuz drilling vessel is en route to the Güzelyurt-1 well in the Mediterranean Sea to continue oil and gas exploration activities, according to Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez on Oct. 3.

Ankara will not accept "a usurpation" of the rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots "with a fait accompli" in the Eastern Mediterranean, the country's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Thursday.

Ahead of Friday's crucial meeting between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Donmez has announced that a second exploration vessel will be dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean by the end of August.

Two Turkish drill ships are continuing operations in the eastern Mediterranean and another ship will join them this month, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez said, as a dispute over natural resources there fuels tensions between Turkey and Greek Cyprus.

Two Turkish drill ships are continuing operations in the eastern Mediterranean and another ship will join them this month, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said, as a dispute over natural resources there fuels tensions between Turkey and Cyprus.

Turkish drillship "Yavuz" has begun operating off the coast of Cyprus, just south of the Karpasia (Kaspas) peninsula and will remain there for three weeks, Cypriot media reported Tuesday, citing an article in Turkey's pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah.